No towers.
No bills.
Just neighbors.
Terlingua Bell runs a free, community MeshCore radio network across Terlingua Ranch. Send text messages to the folks down the road when there's no cell signal, no internet, and the power's out — for nothing, forever.
Your message hops ridge to ridge.
MeshCore is open-source firmware for small, low-power LoRa radios. Your phone talks to your radio over Bluetooth. Your radio talks to ours — solar repeaters we keep up on high ground — and they pass your message along until it reaches your neighbor. No SIM card, no Wi-Fi, no internet anywhere in the chain.
A pocket-size node
A small LoRa radio — many cost less than a tank of gas — paired with the free MeshCore app on your phone or computer.
Up on the high ground
Terlingua Bell installs and maintains solar-powered repeaters with a clear view across the ranch, so your signal carries well past your own ridge.
Everyone helps everyone
Every repeater added by a neighbor makes the network reach farther and hold up better. Nobody owns it, and it doesn't shut off when the grid does.
All of it free. All of it local.
We're a phone company in spirit — the kind that shows up with a truck and a ladder. We don't sell plans. We build and keep up the network, and we help anyone on the ranch get connected to it.
Repeater coverage
Solar repeaters on high ground, installed and maintained by Terlingua Bell, carrying messages across the ranch day and night.
Public ranch channel
A shared community channel for road conditions, lost dogs, water hauls, weather, and the occasional potluck announcement.
Radio flashing & setup
Bring your radio by and we'll load the MeshCore firmware, set it to our network, and walk you through the app.
Community clinics
Regular get-togethers to troubleshoot radios, talk antennas and placement, and get new neighbors on the air.
Private messaging
Direct messages between you and another person are encrypted end to end. No account, no phone number, no data collected.
Repeater help
Want to host a node at your place? We'll help you plan the site, build the solar kit, and tie it into the network.
Built for life out here.
Out on the ranch roads, the cell signal comes and goes. The mesh doesn't depend on it. It keeps working on batteries and sunshine when everything else drops.
Storm knocks out power
Check on the neighbors and share what's working, even with the lines down.
Roads washed out
Spread the word about which crossings are running and which roads to avoid.
No signal at home
Plenty of places on the ranch never had good service. Now you can still reach people.
Out on the land
Carry a pocket radio on a hike or a drive and stay in touch with home base.
Connected in an afternoon.
You'll need one small radio and a phone. If any of this sounds like too much, bring your radio to a clinic and we'll do it with you.
Get a LoRa radio
Pick any MeshCore-compatible device made for the US 915 MHz band. Ask us before you buy and we'll point you at what's working well on the ranch.
HeltecLilyGORAK WisBlockSeeed SenseCAPFlash Companion firmware
Plug the radio into a computer and load the MeshCore Companion firmware using the web flasher at flasher.meshcore.co.uk. It takes about two minutes in Chrome or Edge.
Install the MeshCore app
Free for iPhone, Android, and desktop. Pair it with your radio over Bluetooth and set a display name your neighbors will recognize.
Match our radio settings
Set your radio to the Terlingua Bell network settings shown here. Frequency, bandwidth, and spreading factor have to match exactly or you won't hear anyone.
Send an advert & say howdy
Tap the advert button so others can find you, then post a hello on the public channel. Welcome to the mesh.
Got a ridge? Host a repeater.
Every high spot with a view and some sun can extend the mesh to a whole new corner of the ranch. We'll help with the plan, the gear list, and the install.
Talk to us about hosting- Clear line of sight beats raw height
- A small solar panel and battery is all it needs
- Runs quietly on its own — no maintenance most days
- You'll be helping every neighbor in range
Keep the airwaves friendly.
- Be kindThe public channel is the whole ranch's porch. Act like it.
- Keep it shortAirtime is shared. Brief messages keep the mesh fast for everyone.
- No selling or spamCommunity notices are welcome. Advertising isn't.
- Mind the private stuffUse direct messages for anything personal.
⚠ The mesh is not 911
Terlingua Bell is a volunteer community network with no guarantee of delivery. In an emergency, always try to reach 911 or emergency services first by any means you have.
Asked around the ranch.
Is it really free?
Yes. There's no plan, no subscription and no account. Your only cost is the radio you buy once. Terlingua Bell maintains the shared repeaters as a service to the community.
Do I need a ham radio license?
No. MeshCore radios in the US operate in the unlicensed 902–928 MHz ISM band using low power, so anyone can use them.
Is it the internet? Can I text a regular phone number?
No — and that's the point. The mesh only connects MeshCore radios to each other. It can't reach regular phone numbers or websites, which is exactly why it keeps working when those are down.
Who can read my messages?
Direct messages are encrypted between you and the person you're writing to. Messages on the public channel can be read by anyone who has the channel key, so treat it like a bulletin board.
How far will my radio reach?
On its own, a handheld radio might reach a few miles depending on terrain. Through our repeaters on high ground, your message can travel much farther across the ranch. Getting your antenna up high and clear of obstacles makes a big difference.
How's the battery life?
LoRa radios sip power. Many companion radios run for days on a charge, and they charge off any USB port, power bank, or small solar panel.
Is this the same as Meshtastic?
They're both LoRa mesh projects, but they're different systems and don't talk to each other. Our network runs MeshCore, so make sure your radio has MeshCore firmware.